VHF’s Evening Lectures series offers illustrated lectures that look at the history of Vancouver, covering the events, movements and people that have shaped our city. Since the first event in 2012, the series has included a diverse range of subjects and perspectives in over 50 lectures from more than 30 presenters. A listing of many of them can be found below.
VHF’s Evening Lecture series will continue in virtual format this spring. Join us from the comfort of home to enjoy fascinating pieces of Vancouver’s history with a selection of speakers.
You can earn 1 Old School credit per Evening Lecture or Lunch and Learn, to a maximum of 3 towards VHF’s Heritage Conservation Certificate.
Tuesday, April 6th, 7pm - 8:30pm
Online
$16/$10 (incl. tax)
Using historical images, government documents, and print media, Naveen Girn, Paneet Singh and Milan Singh will share stories of the South Asian community’s activism and resilience, delving into the history of the community and connections to local places. They will also detail the formation of the Continuous Journey regulation and its insidious effects, including its impact on ships like the Panama Maru and Komagata Maru.
1866 West 2nd Avenue in Kitsilano marks the historic site of the first Gurdwara in North America. Established by the Khalsa Diwan Society in 1908, the Gurdwara was the centre of spiritual, political, social, and cultural activity for the small, but growing Sikh and South Asian community in Vancouver for 60 years. From this location, members of the community started printing presses to circulate information about the fight for India’s independence against British colonial rule, discuss topics such as the admission of South Asian women to Canada and advocate for their rights by challenging discriminatory policies in Canada such as the Continuous Journey regulation – a racist immigration restriction carefully designed to keep people from India out.
About the Speakers
Naveen, Paneet and Milan are hosts of The Nameless Collective podcast – a podcast dedicated to the history of Sikh and South Asian communities in British Columbia. The podcast has been featured in stories by the CBC, the Walrus, and Vancouver Magazine, and incorporated in university classrooms and K-12 teaching materials.
Tuesday, May 4th, 7pm - 8:30pm
Online
$16/$10 (incl. tax)
Few collections capture the early development history of British Columbia as comprehensively as the photography of Leonard Frank and Otto Landauer. From mining and logging camps to major construction projects, historic events, and the natural beauty of the landscapes, Leonard Frank documented all corners of the province from 1900 until his death in 1944. Otto Landauer, who purchased the studio after Frank’s death, carried on his legacy documenting the post-war growth of Vancouver, including the construction of many landmark buildings and structures, such as the Second Narrows Bridge and the Queen Elizabeth Theatre.
In this virtual lecture during Jewish Heritage Month, Michael Schwartz, Director of Community Engagement at the Jewish Museum and Archives of BC, will explore some of these extraordinary images that captured moments in the history of Vancouver and BC. He will also discuss how Frank and Landauer came to take such remarkable photos and how those images came to be preserved as a collection.
About the Speaker
Michael Schwartz is Director of Community Engagement at the Jewish Museum and Archives of BC. He develops innovative exhibits and award-winning public programs celebrating the rich history of Jewish life in BC.
Visit our YouTube page for more heritage and history themed videos including two previously recorded Evening Lectures; A Century of Planning from Bartholomew to City Plan with Michael Kluckner and Japanese Hall 1928-2018: The Extraordinary Story of Community Resilience, Survival and Transformation with Laura Saimoto. Be sure to subscribe and click the notification bell to be notified when we upload a new video.